Coal power around the world

In 2025, coal power made 33% of the world's electricity, 10,500 TWh, down from 35% in 2020. That was 11% more electricity than in 2020. In 2000 its share was 38%.

Coal power stations burn coal. Coal gives off more carbon dioxide for each kilowatt hour of electricity than any other common source.

The countries that made the most electricity from coal power were China (5,790 TWh), India (1,470 TWh) and the United States (737 TWh). Botswana relied on it most: 98% of its electricity in 2024. In 14 countries generating at least 1 TWh a year, it made more than half of all electricity.

Over the five years to each country's latest figures, the share of electricity from coal power rose most in Cambodia (from 39% to 57%), Bangladesh (from 4% to 22%) and Rwanda (from 2% to 15%).

See the same figures for any region, with a chart you can read year by year, on the dashboard's World tab.

The world's share over time

By region in 2025

Biggest rises in five years

Each country's share of electricity from coal power five years before its latest figures, in its latest full year (2025 unless shown), and the rise in percentage points: from 3% to 21% is a rise of 18 points.

Other energy sources

• Solar power
• Wind power
• Hydropower
• Nuclear power
• Gas power
• Oil and other fossil fuels
• Bioenergy
• Geothermal and other renewables

Every energy source compared · Every country

Source: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0), figures up to 2025; Ember's latest-year figures are first estimates and may be revised. Countries are compared on their latest full year. Amounts for countries are worked out from each country's total and its share, rounded to three significant figures; changes over five years use whole percentages. TWh: terawatt hours (one billion kWh).